Apparently, NASA have plans to land humans on an asteroid and safely return them to earth by 2025. A roung trip to the asteroids NASA is currently considering would take roughly six months. It would also be both expensive and risky but would have two major reasons to do it:

Bread and circuses, Ebon. Make a big enough side show for the masses, make up some nonsense about how it'll provide 'scientific information,' and they'll buy it every time.

You're right about one thing here: It'll be expensive. And it'll be paid for by the taxes of the workingclass people who can ill afford such nonsense. You don't honestly think that any Congress will pass laws to tax the rich, do you, to help pay for this?

Never mind that the average person can't afford to get sick because the country still doesn't have a decent health care system. Or that many people are out of work because the companies have outsourced so many jobs. And there's the fact that the bridges, roads, and dams are in sore need of reparis. As well, I've just read where the Republicans want to do away with food stamps.

Apparently, NASA have plans to land humans on an asteroid and safely return them to earth by 2025. A roung trip to the asteroids NASA is currently considering would take roughly six months. It would also be both expensive and risky but would have two major reasons to do it:

Sorry, solf, I'm lining up with Yav on this one. It's exciting and scientifically important, possibly profitable, and it'll be cool so yeah, I'm a great big geek and the two of us will be over on this side comparing model spaceships.

I'll be happy to join your outrage at everything you mentioned and especially the Republican scheme to just plain murder the poor but I don't think it's an either/or choice.

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. ~ Proverbs 14:31

Sorry, solf, I'm lining up with Yav on this one. It's exciting and scientifically important, possibly profitable, and it'll be cool so yeah, I'm a great big geek and the two of us will be over on this side comparing model spaceships.

I have a desk lamp of the original Enterprise from Star Trek. The light shines down from the bottom of the saucer section.

The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells.

For ancient king and elvish lord There many a gloaming golden hoard They shaped and wrought, and light they caught To hide in gems on hilt of sword. - J.R.R. Tolkien